Jamie's Smiles' mission is to supply supplemental funding to outstanding programs that benefit special needs children, through grants and other financial means. As a result, we are pleased to announce that Jamie's Smiles has, for the first time, released two $1,000 grants to help special needs children.
On November 5, 2008, Gretchen Bates presented one grant to Glen H. Peters School. This school serves 300 special needs students ages 3-26 in Macomb County. They purchased assistive communication technology devices as well as special sensory input development devices including a chair and balance skill improvement walker for their children.
On November 11, 2008, a second grant was awarded to the Macomb Infant Preschool Program for the purchase of toys, books and feeding equipment for on-site education and training and for loan to special needs children in the Macomb Infant Preschool Program.
On December 23, 2008, Gretchen Bates of Jamie’s Smiles and Andrea Nicolella of the Nino Salvaggio Charitable Foundation for Children in Need presented the grant to the Macomb Infant Preschool Program at their annual Santa Brunch for special needs children in their program. The money will be used by MIPP for the purchase of specialized speech/communication devices and physical/occupational therapy equipment as well as for on-site education and for loan to special needs children in the Macomb Infant Preschool Program.
The photo to the left is of the presentation of the check to the Macomb Infant Preschool Program Home Program Staff and Supervisor (Back Row: Debbie Rosenblatt, Marj Bryen, Linda Lutz, Shirley McMellen, Gretchen Bates; Second Row: Lauren Fox, Logan Bates (holding contribution), Barb Bosel; Front Row: Betty Mihaiu.
On October 6, 2006, Jamie’s Smiles’ first grant was issued to the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP). This $2,000 grant was used to purchase a jungle gym, chairs with trays for feeding and bumble chairs for positioning therapy for special needs children in the MIPPs program.
The picture below shows the presentation of the check to the Macomb Infant Preschool Program Home Program Staff and Supervisor (Back Row: Linda Lutz, Lauren Fox, Gretchen Bates, Shirley McMellen, Marj Bryen; Front Row: Betty Mihaiu, Logan Bates, Barb Bosel).